https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news.atomTchoup Industries - Journal2019-04-05T14:11:00-05:00Tchoup Industrieshttps://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/annual-giving-green2019-04-05T14:11:00-05:002019-04-05T14:21:36-05:00Annual Giving GreenPatti DunnEvery March for the past four years, we’ve chosen a local environmental non-profit to donate a portion of our sales profits. We’re excited to see these modest donations growing year after year. As our business grows, so does our positive impact on our natural surroundings.

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We believe in giving green to keep it green. Coastal Louisiana is experiencing a huge amount of land loss every year that has a negative impact on our communities, migratory birds, biodiversity, and the future of our state.

Every March for the past four years, we’ve chosen a local environmental non-profit to donate a portion of our sales profits. We’re excited to see these modest donations growing year after year. It’s uplifting to know that as our business grows, so does our positive impact on our natural surroundings.

Our total donations to date amount to $2,224.24. See below for a recap of the organizations we’ve donated to in the past years, and we’d love your suggestions on who to partner with in the future!

If you’ve missed our March Giving Green campaign this year and are still looking for a purchase that gives back, we also donate a portion of our Nutria Le Tour Purse sales to Healthy Gulf year round.

All of these organizations also accept donations directly through their websites (linked individually above). Doesn't it feel good to give green!?

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/coffee-origin-adventures2019-03-12T12:03:00-05:002019-03-12T12:46:59-05:00Tchoup Travels: French Truck Coffee Origin Trip to AfricaPatti DunnOur three goals for sourcing coffee, are Quality, People, and Consistency. We are looking for quality coffee, and we are also looking relationships with farmers, and can we help that farmer producer quality coffee consistently.

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Local coffeemaker French Truck Coffee chooses to purchase specialty grade coffee beans to help support small farmers that believe in growing a quality product. To source the best tasting beans from these responsible (and often very remote) farmers, they take seasonal trips straight to the origin 4-5 times a year. Sometimes these trips involves trekking through the rainforest and camping along the way. Here is a collection of photos from French Truck Brand Manager Wayne Jones with information about the trip written by Co-Owner Bobby Winston.

We call these trips “Origin Trips” because in terms of coffee sourcing we are going “to origin” or where coffee is grown. The purpose is to buy fresh crop coffee. Coffee is harvested seasonally, so every year the crop can change in terms of yield and taste. By traveling to origin we can get a first look at how the current harvest is going and make a buying commitment.

Our three goals for sourcing coffee, are Quality, People, and Consistency. We are looking for quality coffee, and we are also looking relationships with farmers, and can we help that farmer producer quality coffee consistently.

Coffee is an agricultural product and is traded on the stock market. That price and product is treated as a commodity. So, the general field we are working in, is considered ‘Specialty” meaning we are paying a premium for a higher quality product. The “commodity price is far too low for a farmer to earn a living. In many cases farmers aren’t receiving enough money for their harvest, and turn to a different crop that will yield more money.

If we can pay a premium price, maybe double or triple what the local market is offering, than we can have an impact on a farm level. By paying more, the farmer can provide for his family and also re invest in the farm, and provide better living conditions for the year round workers on the farm. So for us, it's important to be a consistent buyer for the farmers, to give them the financial security of knowing French Truck will be there to buy their coffee.

Two members of the French Truck team went on this trip to Africa. Myself, and our Brand Manager, Wayne Jones. We (Founder Geoffrey Meeker and I) try and take at least one member of our team on every trip, so our staff can get to experience coffee grown at origin. There a many links on the coffee chain, and for members of our staff it can be a valuable experience to see first hand a crop that they have worked so closely with in our cafe’s.

In total for the trip we took about 14 flights, and one too many bumpy van rides on unpaved roads. On one day trip, our van couldn’t make the steep climb, so some of us walked and some of us were shuttled up using a motorcycle. It took about 2 full days to get Nairobi from the states. Nairobi sits at pretty high elevation, around 5,000 ft and most of the farms are a couple hours away.

Ethiopia is a different story, we had to take 1 ½ hr flight to the western countryside, to a small airport....no baggage claim here, just unload the bags right off the plane. Then the farms were several hours by van on bumpy roads. In years past, we have to travel by horseback to some of the farms because heavy rains essentially washed out the road.

Some of the roads in the country are unpaved, and jam packed with just about everything you could imagine, from cars, buses, vans, pedestrians and a TON of live stock, cows, goats, sheep, donkeys, horses, monkeys….we routinely had to stop the van to let a pack of cows or goats clear the road!

Our guide, Muata, is Ethiopian and has worked in the coffee industry for over 15 years and he knows EVERYONE. So without him, we would be really lost, and he facilitates everything from the language barrier to the coffee! We visited several farms, and some were farther away than others. Some farms were maybe 20-30 miles off the main paved road, and one occasion we had to walk a few miles to get to it, because the climb was so steep.

We only camped one night in Kenya, it was beautiful! With lush tea fields in the background, and monkeys bouncing around the tree canopy. The coffee economy in places of origin like Kenya and Ethiopia is very interesting. So in many places, like Jimma, Ethiopia modest little hotels have popped to accommodate traveling coffee buyers.

The Tchoup Industries Flap Pack has just been my favorite backpack I have ever owned. Its super durable and consistent. It has gotten wet, and dried up super quickly. I have definitely opened a few beers with it on some the long van rides! But the Flap Pack has just been a great design I can fit a lot of stuff in there, and nothing has ever fallen out, it's really lightweight, So i have taken it everywhere, from Central and South America to camping in Africa. It's just become my little buddy kinda, always there.

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As we launch our 5th annual Mardi Gras limited edition collection, we thought it would be fun to look back at past designs. Take a walk with us down memory lane...

2019 Lunar Crescent

Black and Gold (almost) all the way, baby.

Featuring solid brass hardware and reflective cord (they're actually shoelaces we carefully stitched down to the canvas panels). Bags available now while they last!

2018 Plastic to Fantastic

We collaborated with the Guild at Raphael Academy on woven panels made from used plastic shopping bags. Locals tip: the pink you see on the panels is from Rouse's October breast cancer awareness bags. We loved recycled plastic and working with the amazingly lovely students and teachers at the Guild.

We loved this collection so much we kept the Fanny Pack in our core collection.

2017 Beads & Brass

This was the first time I worked with textile designer Abby Wetsman (now she is a part of our team!). We combined solid brass hardware with fabric that she hand painted with beads. Starting with remnant cotton canvas, Abby dyed the fabric with natural tannins (found in coffee tea & wine), dipped old Mardi Gras beads in paint and tossed them onto the canvas for a colorful and one of a kind print.

Our super lux inaugural Mardi Gras collection featured panels of metallic gold alligator leather from Lafayette family business Mark Staton Co. All of the gator leather we use is purchased from the Staton's and guaranteed genuine Louisiana alligator, mostly provided by local hunters.

Forever seeking ways to avoid the summer months of New Orleans led me on a bike trip from Venice Italy to Munich Germany during September 2018. I went on this trip with my best friends, G, Matt, and Ben. The ride was inspired by Call Me By Your Name, G's uncle's bike trips across Europe, and curiosity.

We followed an old Roman road called the Via Augusta Claudia. The Via Augusta Claudia brought us through apple orchards, small towns, and the Alps. For roughly 3 weeks, Matt, G, Ben, and I hung out, biked, and slept outside. We were never apart. No real fights, but everyone did get food poisoning at some point though.

I met the boys in Venice. The day I arrived I bought a bike off an Italian man wearing all black for 120 euros. The bike was alright. The brakes never really worked, despite G's best efforts. The lack of brakes and bent rims kept me at a slow and steady pace.

Biking really long distances for weeks is weird to be honest. It's oddly comforting to have a single task to focus on, that leaves you so tired at the end of the day you fall immediately asleep. While biking for hours I often thought of skateboarding, friends, my diet, the next grocery store stop, and how much I'd like to not be biking at the moment. I honestly complained a lot about biking, while biking (sorry boys).

Now that I'm back in the States I really miss biking all day. I miss hanging out with the boys, I miss setting up camp, and I miss all the pretzels I ate. Instead of dirty clothes, bike parts, and sunscreen, my Tchoup bag now usually carries a laptop and predictable office supplies.

On the bike trip, my view ahead always included my Roulez Pack in my front basket. A welcome reminder of home. Back home, it's still in my front basket.

This trip was made possible by G's planning, Tchoup Industries, New Orleans, stealing from grocery stores, and borrowing camping supplies from friends.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/power-of-community2018-10-20T18:45:00-05:002018-10-21T16:34:59-05:00Power of CommunityElla CampbellHeartsleeve has its roots firmly set in a foundation of community, leveraging its creativity for local change.

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Natasha stands at the helm of her steel printing press while we chat. She’s setting up for screen-printing a new batch of Tchoup Industries tees, and I’m tagging along to experience her process firsthand. Her company Heartsleeve operates out of this space in the Mid City Art Studios on Toulouse Street. Once the large commercial home of New Orleans’ City Graphics, it has since been renovated into art studios now occupied by over thirty artists. Natasha’s space is rich with character – old thick brick walls interrupted by swaths of brightly painted plaster shapes and large windows providing so much light and fresh air when propped open. Her space is toward the front of the building and as other artists stream in throughout the day, she calls out a kind “Hello!” to everyone passing by her open door.

During our printing session, conversation wandered through the topics of small creative business ownership – growing staff, team management, design originality, competition, festival selling tricks, being Leos, and keeping a general positive attitude about life. Even though I’ve been familiar with Heartsleeve for a few years now, I was thankful for the opportunity to learn more about this company whose positive roots are growing quick and strong here in the New Orleans community.

Natasha is only one half of Heartsleeve. Her partner in life and business is graphic designer Bernie January Jr. Together they provide the services of design, screen-printing, and even offer their own collection of tees that donate back to local non-profit organizations. Their goal with the collection is to support small, Louisiana Causes with original designs and hand-printed t-shirts. Above and beyond this financial support of local projects, Bernie also puts in time as Lead Design Mentor and art directs design projects for YEP Design Works, a work and learn program developing local, creative youth into creative digital media professionals at the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP). I can tell by the way Natasha talks about it, they both take special pride in further supporting exceptional graduates through their own professional networks.

I was curious how Natasha started screen-printing since her background is in environmental non-profit development with the Gulf Restoration Network. When asked, her response was bright and simple, “Pippin taught me!” Pippin Frisbie Calder is one of my personal favorite New Orleans artists, her block prints express the beauty and command an awareness of our fragile ecosystems. Pippin has collaborated with GRN (initially connecting her and Natasha), and she also played a big role in the New Orleans Community Print Shop, where she taught Natasha how to screen-print and develop designs for this medium.

I left the printing studio that afternoon with my arms loaded up with freshly printed tees and a feeling of pride for supporting this local company. Considering their scope of generosity and positive impact on our city, the dollars Tchoup Industries spent for these shirts will most certainly be paid forward. Heartsleeve has its roots firmly set in a foundation of community, leveraging its creativity for local change.

See the new tees Heartsleeve printed for us on our website here and here.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/memphis-makers2018-09-10T12:30:00-05:002018-09-12T09:45:04-05:00Memphis MakersPatti DunnWe’re heading to Memphis this weekend to sell our bags at the Cooper-Young Festival, so I reached out to a new maker friend Funlola Coker who hails from that spot upriver for her short list of other creatives to check out.

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When I travel, it is foremost on my to-do list to visit, shop and discover local artisans. It’s inspiring and provides opportunities to expand my community and score some extra special souvenirs and gifts. We’re heading to Memphis this weekend to sell our bags at the Cooper-Young Festival, so I reached out to a new maker friend Funlola Coker who hails from that spot upriver for her short list of other creatives to check out.

Funlola and I met at this past July’s Nashville Porter Flea. In a fairgrounds hall with over 150 makers lined up in neat booths, I had the luck of being stationed next to Funlola Coker and her extremely noteworthy jewelry of “littles”. She makes all of her jewelry by hand. Her little donut stud earrings feature hand-rolled and cut sprinkles of all different colors, and her tiny avocado best friend necklace cleverly let’s one half keep the seed.

Although this painstakingly accurate cuteness drew the masses to her booth (and definitely adds the FUN in Funlola’s Workshop), her more refined metal work pieces were my personal favorite. Funlola has recently expanded into this process and confesses it’s where her heart now lies. Reminiscent of printed textiles, she throws in splashes of shapes and color that break up the metal planes in such a casually hip way.

Here is Funlola’s recommended list of Memphis makers to check out at this weekend's Cooper-Young Festival. I find it so refreshing that these artists are truly blazing their own trails and developing items that can only be found coming out of their workshops and studios. I’m so looking forward to meeting them all!

And here are a few others I found with some online hunting that seem cool too - LATHA soaps that look like popular drinks (these would probably do great in Nola!), Philip Ashley Chocolates almost too beautiful to eat, the abstract painting of Chloe York, and gestural water colors by Beth Winterburn.

Have any additional suggestions for a traveler to Memphis? Please add them in comments below for all to see!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/all-natural-indigo2018-08-23T17:32:00-05:002018-08-23T17:38:12-05:00All Natural IndigoPatti DunnThe traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique called shibori has been seeing a renaissance, especially when done with the strikingly deep blue of natural indigo dyes. Read more about this naturally derived dye and how it's making a comeback through hobbyists and big industry.

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Traditional and all-natural artisanal methods are at the core of the Tchoup Industries’ brand (and my personal interests). When Nisey Shanks from our sewing team hosted a shibori-style indigo dye party at her house, I eagerly signed up to learn more about this dye and technique.

Photos of hand-dyed textiles featuring geometric inky blue and white shapes have been popping up on my social media feeds and fashion radar for the past couple years. The traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique called shibori has been seeing a renaissance, especially when done with the strikingly deep blue of natural indigo dyes.

So what is indigo dye anyway? We’re all more familiar than we know, it’s the main dye used for denim jeans! However, while once it was widely a naturally sourced dye, the modern era of manufacturing has shifted to imported synthetics for efficiency (of course, as these things go….). In a national and global effort to avoid toxic synthetics, there’s a movement to get back to natural. And one noteworthy U.S. company Stony Creek Colors run by Sarah Bellos, is pioneering a new strategy that relies on natural indigo plants grown in Middle Tennessee.

Their main goal is to provide the natural dye at a scale large enough to support big industry. Sarah Bellos told the Tennessean newspaper, "[Natural dye is] not something that is consistent or at a volume enough for the bigger factories to care about it. If the only thing that will close that loop is a company making enough to meet market demand, then we want to be that company.” It’s a very inspirational story about reviving an industry that was once prolific in the U.S. and partnering with other local manufacturing businesses like Cone Denim in NC. She’s aligned with farmers in Tennessee to grow about 25 acres of it so far and her goal is to expand into the tens of thousands of acres down the road.

OK, LOVING her and her ultra important work for sustainability and community support. And lucky for us hobbyists, Stony Creek Colors currently also sells small batch dye kits on their website here. Nisey ordered a similar natural indigo kit from textile designer Graham Keegan for her party.

When all the party makers arrived for this hands-on craft night, Nisey showed us several shibori techniques she’d learned and discovered, and encouraged us all to get creative with our own techniques. Mostly the main idea is to fold, bind, stitch or compress the fabric in an infinite amount of three dimensional possibilities. The cloth stays bound and compressed during the dying process as you dip multiple times into the premixed dye bath (which was in a plastic bucket in her lush little backyard in the Lower 9th Ward, under a stunningly pink sunset).

I brought some of Tchoup Industries’ natural cotton bandanas for us all to try. Although the dye concoction we used turned out to be more swampy blue-green than deep inky blue, we had some really cool dye pattern varieties come out of the mix. A selection of these bandanas are now available online - shop here! A special thanks to Nisey Shanks, Laura Orwick, Sarah Collins, Heather Sandel, and Reiley Morgan for their beautiful handiwork and lovely company!

Interested in trying it yourself? Nisey recommends Saint Lydia’s workshops that take place all over the city. Fun fact - they named themselves after Saint Lydia the Catholic patron saint of dyers.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/the-super-hauler2018-05-31T18:07:00-05:002018-05-31T19:56:10-05:00The Super HaulerPatti DunnWe decided to add this bag into our summer collection so our fans could try it on their own adventures. If you like to play outside or haul big loads in style, you'll most definitely love this bag!

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When my sister Katie explained to me the custom bag she wanted last Christmas, it took some convincing to understand the desire. Why would someone need a tote that hangs down to their knees? Obviously I'm not as fashion forward as my hip sis, nor did I immediately share the utilitarian vision for this bag.

My sister is a single parent (with the cutest toddler you ever did see) in Portland, Oregon. Both adventure and style are meaningful to her, which aligns swimmingly with our brand's "City and Swamp" mentality. Here's what she has to say after using this bag for 6 months:

"This is my go-to travel bag and chic mom tote. It's ideal for packing bulky items like baby blankets and stuffed pandas. It can fit under the seat of a plane folded or neatly in overhead storage jam packed. The back zip access makes it great for quickly stashing items.

Since it's made with sail cloth and canvas it's been a dream in the rainy Pacific Northwest and on the beaches of the Caribbean. My fave thing about it is that it makes me look stylish while being such a reliable workhorse! Love love love it."

The bag was even useful as a "recliner" on one late night airport layover.

Of course I made a duplicate of this bag to try out myself. After a few paddle trips and a car camping adventure, this bag is now our household's outdoor recreation go-to as well. The sail cloth is super lightweight and dries fast. The backpack straps make hauling bulky loads a breeze, leaving you with two open hands for paddles, s'more fixin's, or gathering wood.

The team at Tchoup Industries decided to add this bag into our summer collection so our fans could try it on their own adventures. If you like to play outside (with lots of stuff) or haul big loads in style, you'll most definitely love this bag!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/goodwood2018-03-19T18:35:00-05:002018-03-19T19:34:28-05:00Good WoodPatti DunnMore]]>
We are always in search of new bag materials or components that can be sourced locally in Southern Louisiana and tell the story of our rich culture. When we discovered GoodWood NOLA was purchasing sinker cypress logs from the estate of Greg Guirard, we had to strike up a conversation.

For those of you unfamiliar, modern logging of bald cypress trees in the Louisiana Atchafalaya Basin is highly regulated after much of its old-growth forests were depleted in the late 19th & early 20th century. In Greg Guirard's book Atchafalaya Autumn II, he wrote about "the tragedy of the destruction of the great cypress forests of the Atchafalaya Basin. Every last cypress tree that was big enough to make lumber economically was cut down. No-one seemed to have the wisdom or the power to put an end to that process before it was too late."

Guirard's own grandfather owned a sawmill used for processing this lumber taken out of the Atchafalaya Basin. He questions why someone who so actively enjoyed and depended on the swamp forests didn't try to step up and stop this deforestation. "By the end of the 1920's, the destruction was all but complete. Nobody cared enough or had the wisdom, or the vision, or the power to stop it. A million-acre cathedral had been converted into million-acre graveyard - the land of the giants - and hardly anyone noticed." Spending time in the basin today, it is easy to spot the affects of this damage, and see this symbolic graveyard imagery of Guirard's writing first hand.

Cypress lumber is very dense, resilient and stunningly beautiful so it's easy to see why demand was high in the old days. Today there is an alternative that people like Greg Guirard have worked hard to provide. Greg wrote "When I can find them, I pull old cypress sinkers out of the basin and saw them into lumber. It's beautiful, meaningful wood, and many people regard it with a certain reverence." He was only pulling out trees that were felled in the logging days but never recovered. The reddish heartwood is so dense that some of these trees sank straight to the bottom. Fishermen helped Greg find these logs when water was low in the basin. They flagged them and tied them to barrels that pulled the logs toward the surface once water levels rose again.

The sinker cypress is especially stunning as it has much more depth of color and variation after so much time absorbing the rich mud of Atchafalaya Basin. GoodWood NOLA is using Greg's recovered sinker cypress lumber in their handcrafted furniture and custom interiors. We collaborated with them on our new sinker cypress toggle to further use every scrap of this wood that was so painstakingly salvaged.

I'll end this entry with a plea from our late fellow environmentalist Greg Guirard, and a recommendation to order a copy of Atchafalaya Autumn II to help share the spirit of preservation for our unique landscape.

"Don't let anyone make you believe you're wacky because you care deeply about the physical world we inhabit...We can't live without a healthy environment, no matter what our political views may be. If it goes, we go with it."

Now, get out and hug a cypress tree - that's where you can usually find me : ).

Photos are from Atchafalaya Autumn II and GoodWood NOLA.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/tchoup-press-fast-company2018-02-02T13:23:00-06:002018-02-02T13:24:03-06:00Tchoup Press: Fast CompanyPatti DunnMore]]>
As a small company, we are always amazed and deeply gracious when unsolicited press mentions show up in widely publicized magazines such as Fast Company!

Clay Dunn, an attendee of the Fast Company Innovation Festival and SVP of Share Our Strength, recommends his Tchoup backpack to readers.

"For years I carried a waxed canvas backpack from Tchoup. I took it so many places that I finally needed to replace it. The new design is even better than the old one."

Needless to say, I was intrigued to learn more about Clay Dunn (a fellow Dunn but no relation to me!), and his organization. Share Our Strength is a Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization committed to ending child hunger.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/plastic-to-fantastic2018-01-05T22:33:00-06:002018-01-07T19:01:37-06:00Plastic To FantasticPatti Dunn
Needing a supply of low cost weaving material for lessons, the folks at the Guild turned to a truly plentiful and disposable resource – the plastic shopping bag.

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We are lucky for a lot of things in New Orleans - Carnival season, decadent food, uplifting music, a thriving artist community, subtropical temps (most of the time)... We are also lucky to have numerous grassroots nonprofits doing so much good for our people and planet.

For this year’s Mardi Gras collection we teamed up with one of those impactful organizations - The Guild of Raphael Village. At “the Guild”, Caroline Finck has created a curriculum where young adults living with disabilities can continue developing life skills needed for greater independence at home and in the community.

One skill these students learn and practice is weaving. Two large looms are set up in The Guild’s Mid-City facility, standing ready for the young artisans to create feet and feet of fabric. Needing a supply of low-cost weaving material for lessons, the folks at the Guild turned to a truly plentiful and disposable resource – the plastic shopping bag. These plastic bags are hand cut into strips and woven into fabric, keeping them out of landfills or nearby bodies of water.

Thankfully, plastic shopping bags come in a variety of colors, giving the fabric a fun striped pattern (a great complement to Mardi Gras season). We’re especially grateful for Rouse’s breast cancer awareness month pink shopping bags adding an extra pop of color, or Funky Monkey’s signature yellow bag that shows up from time to time on the woven panels.

We thought you might enjoy seeing the students’ of The Guild at work on this fabric. These photos and video taken during the weaving process give a sense of the work and love that went into this project.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/looking-back-on-our-first-five-years2018-01-03T18:22:00-06:002018-01-07T18:50:37-06:00Our First Five YearsPatti DunnMore]]>
This month we celebrate Tchoup Industries' fifth anniversary! As a small business that has been growing slowly and organically - with more than a few missteps that we dub "learning experiences" - we have made a point to thoroughly acknowledge every milestone.

Here are a few notable "firsts" to share from our 5-year journey building and selling quality bags.

November 2012 - First Backpack Prototypes

Our first design was the Roulez Pack shown here. Ursa Eyer helped build a handful of these prototype packs that were passed out to friends to field test. Their feedback helped shape the final product we still make and sell today.

February 2013 - First Logo Ideas

The paddler icon located in the center of our logo was hand drawn by moi. Here's a look at a few other options that didn't make the cut. I'd like to give a big thanks to designer Lauren Sanders who helped create our final design!

April 2013 - First Sales

We sold our first bags to the public at the 2013 LA Bucket Brigade Earth Day Festival. The sun shone down on us that day and left us amazed by the support of our community and hopeful about making and selling more bags.

September 2013 - First Collaboration

When KREWE Sunglasses and Tchoup Industries were both trailblazing our first year in business, we collaborated on a sunglasses case. This limited edition case went through a few evolutions before running its course.

February 2014 - First Nutria Bag

When we first started using this plentiful local fur, we wanted our customers to know it was for the right reasons. Every Nutria Le Tour bag sold donates back to the Gulf Restoration Network, an organization working to keep our Gulf Coast healthy. We have donated over $1,800.00 to Gulf Restoration Network since launching this item.

April 2014 - First Maker Friends

I am so thankful to have grown Tchoup Industries alongside other local creative entrepreneurs and makers. A defining moment for our community was the aptly named Frontier pop up group that banded together in 2014 to help capture Jazz Fest exposure. Members included Kathleen Currie of Smoke Perfume, Tippy Tippens of Goods That Matter, Justin Shiels of INVADE Magazine, Kathi Keppel of DVRA, and Tiffany Napper of the former Flying Fox.

January 2015 - First Mardi Gras Collection

Our first limited edition Mardi Gras collection featured gold gator leather from Mark Staton Co. of Lafayette, Louisiana. This annual collection has become one of our favorite product traditions, giving us a chance to try exciting new materials and collaborate with other local craftsmen.

January 2015 - First (Shared) Retail Shop

We jumped at the opportunity to lease our first retail space on Saint Mary Street with fellow businesses DVRA and Disko Obscura. This shared retail space opportunity made taking a huge leap feel of faith feel more like a baby step. We sold off our extraneous supplies and got very serious about organization.

May 2015 - First Recycled Sail Cloth Backpack

Recycled sailcloth made its debut on our small ditty bag toiletry cases during our first year of business. However, it took growing the used sail supply chain before we could explore this material on our bigger bags. We take a lot of pride in keeping this material out of Lakeside dumpsters.

May 2015 - First National Press Mention

We have never had the resources to hire a PR manager, so every national press mention results in complete fanfare around our studio. Our first national "earned press" mention was by Food and Travel and it still holds a special place in our heart.

June 2016 - First (& Only) Custom Hornback Gator Backpack

We take custom orders all the time, but it's a really special day when you have a hand in turning a hornback gator hide into a functional pack. I still think about this bag and envy it's owner!

November 2016 - First Knife Bags

Constantly being asked by local chefs to make a knife roll made collaborating with Coutelier knife shop a no-brainer. We were thrilled when they opened up shop on Oak Street and reached out about working together on this highly sought after item.

February 2017 - First (Independent) Retail + Studio Space

After two years in a shared shop space, we were ready to give it a go on our own. Moving into 1115 Saint Mary Street (where you can still find us) gave us the freedom to offer customers a full view into our working space. We still love to collaborate block events with our neighbors Defend New Orleans, Disko Obscura, and New Orleans Photo Alliance.

April 2017 - First Payroll!

We've been running as lean as possible since first selling our bags in 2013. I felt like our little operation had finally grown into a real company when I was able to offer our growing team of part time employees a W2 position with Tchoup Industries. What started as 1 designer + 1 sewer has now become a talented group of 8!

December 2017 - First Film Industry Commission

We were busy bees over the holidays, working on a secret project for The FirstTV series debuting later this year. My original dream for Tchoup Industries was not only to be selling under our own brand, but to be providing sewn manufacturing to our community. I am so thankful for all the extracurricular projects that help keep this small company afloat.

Want to help us celebrate 5 years? Keep an eye on our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or sign up for emails about upcoming festivities!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/gifts-for-good2017-12-14T17:46:00-06:002017-12-15T09:11:16-06:00Gifts for GoodPatti Dunn
The Good Shop - all under $50 - to make you and your loved ones feel GOOD.

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The GOOD Shop in Mid City is the collaborative effort of five ethical and sustainable NOLA maker brands. Tchoup Industries is honored to have been a part of this collective of goodness since November of this year.

While you're finishing up the last of your holiday shopping, consider the following picks from The GOOD Shop - all under $50 - to make you and your loved ones feel GOOD.

Heartsleeve Tees - $25

Heartsleeve prints all of their t-shirts by hand in their Mid City studio, just down the street from The GOOD Shop. Sales from each tee design gives back to a different non-profit. A portion of sales from this Love Y'all shirt supports theNew Orleans Loving Festival.The festival showcases films and other creative works that explore racial stereotypes and inspire people to work together for racial justice.

Zeko Arc Earrings - $26+

Devon of Zeko Jewelry only uses the purest metals and celebrates the beauty of simplicity. Made with standard 20 gauge 14k gold filled wire, each arc is one continuous piece with a clean and subtle curve. Available in Large and Small.

Goods That Matter Candle - $38

Use your dollar as your vote when it comes to what you want to protect (or love or rebuild). This peaceful Evergreen Scent Candle raises funds for our National Park Service on their 100th Birthday, helping to preserve our treasured National Parks for future generations. You can shop Goods That Matter's other candle selections if your heart is more in tune with their other causes.

Smoke Perfume Cypress Oil - $48

This cypress oil is ultra hydrating, luxuriously moisturizing, and rich in skin-healthy oils. Made by Smoke Perfume in Bywater neighborhood with wildcrafted cypress leaves straight from the bayous of Louisiana. Cypress is tonifying, regulating, detoxifying, and decongesting... perfect for post holiday self care!

Tchoup Industries Recycled Tote - $45

A large and versatile tote bag perfect for makin' groceries or beach adventures is making it's debut this week. These simple open-top totes are made from recycled vinyl step & repeat banners previously used at Life City's annual gala event. 100% of profit from this item is donated back to Life City - a New Orleans organization helping businesses become more environmentally sustainable.

The GOOD Shop is located inside Church Alley Coffee on Canal Boulevard not far from the Carrollton intersection. 4201 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA. Drop by to shop, sip and browse our other products!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/buy-it-for-life2017-11-16T09:32:00-06:002017-11-16T09:32:16-06:00Buy it for LifePatti DunnMore]]>
We design and craft our bags in New Orleans with a focus on durability. We back this quality with our Lifetime Warranty covering defects in materials, design and workmanship. If damage isn’t covered under our warranty, we will repair it if possible for a very reasonable fee.

Here’s a list of typical issues covered under our warranty:

Webbing pulling out of seams.

Shoulder straps pulling out of seams.

Fraying Webbing loops (where hook attaches).

Worn holes in bottom panels or padded shoulders straps.

Keep in mind nothing is made to last forever. Bags will eventually come to the end of their reasonably expected lifetimes. For us, that is 4 years. That being said, with proper care and timely repairs, some bags will become heirloom pieces that can be enjoyed by multiple generations.

Here are a few tips to extending the life of your bag to it’s fullest longevity.

Don’t overstuff zippers. Putting unnecessary stress or weight on zippers will shorten their lifespan. We’ve seen this mostly on our Fanny Packs and have switched from metal to self-healing nylon coil zipper openings to help alleviate this common problem.

Clean and Re-Wax regularly. We recommend cleaning your bag with a simple cold water rinse and air dry a couple times a year, especially after visits to gritty places. Your wax coating will need to be replenished every 1-2 years based on use. We have a journal post on how to re-wax your bag. Keep an eye out for our wax workshops, we usually host a 2-3 per year in our New Orleans shop.

Wear your backpack on two shoulders instead of just one. Our bags were designed and built to have weight distributed evenly between the two shoulder straps. Excessive wear to just one side may result in tearing over time.

Repair Early. Send or bring your bag back to use at the first signs of damage. As that hole or snag becomes larger, it will become more difficult for us to patch up and get back to you in a timely manner.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/boogieman-of-the-swamp2017-10-23T20:09:00-05:002017-10-23T20:09:07-05:00Boogieman of the SwampPatti Dunn
“Beware of the loup garou!” Mitch, owner of Houseboat Adventures, was being playful and funny as he shoved off in his boat leaving my friends and I on a rudimentary houseboat lashed to a cypress tree in the middle of the Henderson Swamp. We laughed it off too, silly swamp monster myths. But come nightfall when there’s nothing to see but pitch black and maybe the sparkle of alligator eyes creeping on you in the darkness, you start to wonder if the alligators may be the only lurking threat keeping an eye on you.

The Rougarou, also known as the loup-garou, is the legendary werewolf shape-shifter of Cajun folklore believed to live in the shadows and haunt the streets, bayous and swamps of Southern Louisiana. Origins of this myth can be traced to both secular and non-secular sources. You were either scared into Catholic submission by tales of this monster (especially during Lent), or there was the fear of being cursed by a witch into being the Rougarou yourself (a spell that supposedly lasted 101 days).

I asked a few of my Cajun friends to tell me what they know about this spooky creature, and this is what I heard back:

“He’s like a swamp werewolf type. But not like ‘….and we saw the rougarou’ – it’s just the boogieman of the swamp. If he catches you he’ll put you under his spell.” - Paige

“His eyes glow green at night and we called him the loup garou. He stinks. Howls like a cross between a man and a coyote.” - Nick

“I refused to trick or treat when I was in preschool because I was scared of him. I still remember how scared I was.” - Sarah

“ I don’t know that much but my friend read online that the rougarou can only count to 12 so you’re all good if you leave 13 items out on your porch. He will be distracted by his endless loop of counting and will not come inside to get you.” - Emily

Sadly, the Rougarou Fest held in Houma, LA was canceled this year due to inclement weather, but I’ve got it on my calendar for next year. Seems like the perfect event for celebrating our most frightening month.

Do you believe in the Rougarou??

Tell us what you know!

On the other hand, if you know who made all of the beautifully frightening art and images in this post, please share and we'll provide the proper credit!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/make-it-your-own2017-10-10T15:46:00-05:002017-10-12T10:51:01-05:00Make it Your OwnPatti DunnTchoup Industries builds one-of-a-kind bags on a regular basis for our customers. In case you're interested in customizing a Tchoup bag but don't live here in New Orleans, we've made our Custom Order Form accessible right here in our online Journal.

Give us a call to place your order 504-872-0726 or discuss any additional options not pictured here.

Custom Order Form

Your order will be ready in 1-2 weeks unless otherwise noted.

Fee of $20 applies to all custom orders.

Payment is required at time of placing order.

Need some extra inspiration to get he creative juices flowing? See our Pinterest board showing what's been done for past customers. We'll be adding to this board on a regular basis, so keep an eye on it for fun new additions!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/recent-design-evolutions2017-09-12T14:30:00-05:002017-09-13T09:46:07-05:00Recent Design EvolutionsPatti Dunn
We brought our very first Roulez Packs to market 4 years ago. While our original designs were thoroughly tested and materials carefully selected, sometimes its only time can reveal opportunities for further improvement. As a company we adapt to the needs of our community and keep our quality top notch. Here are a handful of design evolutions that we’ve recently applied to our existing items and growing collection.

3 DESIGN CHANGES WE MADE THIS YEAR:

What’s the Rub?

We’ve seen a number of backpacks coming back to us for repair due to holes worn through the bottom panels and shoulder straps. These are proving to be high abrasion wear points that are now enforced with a heavier weight twill canvas. You may notice a subtle color and texture difference between these panels and the rest of the bag, but other than that the appearance is the same, only the quality has been enhanced. This change is being applied to our Flap Packs, Roulez Packs, Messenger Bags and Travel Totes.

If you own an old version, don’t fret! Any holes forming in these areas will be covered under our Warranty for free repair. We only ask that you contact us earlier rather than later as they are easier to fix when they’re small and manageable.

Don’t Slouch, Convertible Mini!

We responded to a large amount of requests when we changed our Mini Flap Pack Crossbody and Mini Flap Backpack into one beautifully convertible item. However, with the new placement of straps and adjustable hardware, the bag tends to slouch in a major way when being worn cross body. We’ve added a second layer of fabric and a new foam insert to help this bag stand tall and proud.

If you own an old version, bring it by the shop and we can provide you with options for improvement.

Sunshine & Rainbows

We thought everyone could use a little pick-me-up this summer with a bright new colorway inspired by sunshine and rainbows. Our Sunny Yellow colorway made using Sunbrella™ fabric with handwoven rainbow inkle was applied to our Flap Pack, Mini Flap Pack and Fanny Pack. There’s enough in the news to make us cloudy and blue, keep it positive and share some sunshine!

We started using Sunbrella™ fabric because Bel Awning on Tchoupitoulas Street was selling their remnants at a good price and we love supporting our local businesses. You may also remember that we had an entire Sunbrella awning (used on a house for 3 years) donated to us when the homeowners were dismantling the awning. However, after further investigation we realized that Sunbrella is a great sustainable option even as a virgin fabric. It is manufactured in Anderson, South Carolina at a landfill-free textile mill that has reduced water consumption by 10 million gallons annually. On top of the ecological benefits, this fabric is innovative in that it’s engineered to be highly water resistant, UV-resistant, and stain-resistant. We hope you enjoy the brighter color selection that we’ll continue to roll out over the coming seasons.

ALL NEW PRODUCT OPTIONS WE LAUNCHED THIS YEAR:

Leather Card Wallets

On Earth Day 2017 we met Bruce DuCote of Bruce Handmade Leathers. We were inspired by his longstanding experience in leather craft right here in Southern Louisiana. We collaborated with him this Spring to bring you our next generation of the leather card wallet. This time with thicker, hand-dyed leather and durable hand stitched seams.

Adventure Tote

Last month, we launched a durable and versatile tote that can be used as a weekender, beach tote, or gear Sherpa. Our new Adventure Tote is a workhorse ready to pull the weight.

Stickers!

Yes, we now have freebie logo stickers that we welcome you to plaster over your electronic devices, drinking containers,and vehicles of choice. But, we really had fun developing a laser etched wooden sticker (made from actual white maple wood veneer) and our multi-sticker sheet based on Ursa Eyer’s beloved local fauna illustrations also seen on our bandanas. Both now available for purchase in our shop and online for $5 each.

Small but Mighty - Pouches & Sleeves

Our backpacks are versatile (for City & Swamp of course), and used by our customers for all sorts of everyday commutes and adventurous jaunts. There is minimal pocketing inside of our large bags so you can pack it just how you like it. Now that's even easier with our newest pouches and sleeves! Check out our brand spanking new Laptop Sleeves, Utility Pouches, Woven Zip Clutches and Treasure Pouches for all your organizational needs.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/a-cut-above2017-06-02T16:20:00-05:002018-06-25T14:02:28-05:00A Cut AbovePatti Dunn
When Jacqueline (Jackie) Blanchard -co-owner of Coutelier NOLA knife shop- first emailed me this time last year about collaborating, I knew the stars had aligned. Tchoup Industries was getting countless requests from New Orleanian chefs to add a knife roll to our collection of handmade bags. The knife roll seemed like a great fit for our skill set and our food-loving community, but I just didn't know where to start... until I met Jackie and Brandt. Three new products have been born out of this magical collaboration, all available for purchase at Coutelier's New Orleans shop, Nashville shop or online store.

If you've ever browsed their shop on Oak Street, you'll know right away these two know their stuff. They stock only the most premium, hand-crafted knives from the likes of old samurai sword forgers in Japan and traditional knife-making communities in France. As chefs and knife aficionados themselves, Jackie & Brandt were able to provide the expertise needed for designing and building a top-of-the-line Tchoup Industries + Coutelier NOLA knife roll that can stand proud alongside their high end cutlery.

Having their thumb on the pulse of the New Orleans restaurant industry also uncovered a second brilliant idea especially for chefs who have a bicycle commute to restaurants in the Quarter with limited parking - a knife backpack! To make accessing knives safe and convenient, we added zippers down the sides of our traditional Flap Pack and knife storage against the back wall of the bag, giving chefs a whole new way to transport their tools to and from the kitchen.

The newest addition to our collaboration is the tool roll, an item that has much more versatility in the restaurant industry or for the civilian enthusiast. This roll is smaller to hold more commonly used tools such as spoons, pastry cutters, small knives, picnic utensils, bike tools or even art supplies. The sky's the limit!

All items shown above are available for purchase via Coutelier NOLA on Oak Street, in their new Nashville location or from their online shop. Please contact Jackie & Brandt for more details!

Through his ingenuity with vocoder, keys and saxophones, Casey Benjamin has lent many artists some of their most defining sounds. This GRAMMY award-winning frontman, songwriter and producer has gained international acclaim on such trailblazing records as Black Radio (Robert Glasper Experiement), We Got It from Here … Thank You 4 Your Service (A Tribe Called Quest), A Seat at the Table (Solange), and more.

Between a concert at the Manship Theater with the Experiment in Baton Rouge, and teaching a Master Class with Robert Glasper at Tulane University during Jazz Fest, Benjamin stopped by Tchoup Industries. He picked out a Roulez Pack that features the artwork of local New Orleans fiber artist Daron Douglas, and he took some time to talk about his music, cars, fashion and travels.

Q: What were some of your inspirations that have helped you along the way in music, or any special mentors that you’ve had outside of music, that have helped you get to where you are?

Well it all started with just growing up in Jamaica Queens. It’s a historic town for the beginnings of hip-hop, and there are some jazz musicians who came from Jamaica Queens: Marcus Miller, Lenny White, Bernard Wright, Donald Blackmon, Tom Browne. People that, as a kid, we idolized them. You know they were like stars. They’re the creators of Jamaica Funk, which was a thing back then. Hip-Hop: A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J. That’s where it started from, just being in the neighborhood, growing up in that neighborhood, and listening to those guys was a special thing.

You were part of A Tribe Called Quest’s 2016 release - was Tribe a group that you were looking up to at the time or your contemporaries?

I looked up to them. I didn’t get to know Tribe - Q-Tip in particular - until maybe about 12 years ago when we started to become friends. Before then, you know, it was always one degree of separation. Me and Q-Tip had the same mentor, Weldon Irvine, who was also another Jamaica Queens legend. He mentored the both of us. He used to have a jam session every Tuesday and Thursday like a workshop in Hollis Queens. It was all ages, and I was probably the youngest person there, and there were people in their 50s. Musicians would go there and work out stuff.

What type of music? Was it all jazz?

Yes it was straight ahead, we’d play standards, learn how to play in odd meters, and other things like that. I remember one time I was down there, I must have been 10, around the time of “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo,” right around that time. And Tip came down and he wanted to play flute. Tip was always into jazz music and wanting to learn. Tip always hung around jazz musicians. Jamaica Queens was a magical place back then.

Was any of the music that was in your home growing up also influential?

Absolutely. So my father was a musician, DJ, he was in the military, he built car stereos. He was one of the first cats in the 70s that built car stereos.

Is that where part of your infatuation with cars comes in too?

Oh absolutely. So my father had a ‘76 Ford Grand Torino, and he had it pimped out with speakers and it was the loudest thing you would ever hear. You know, at the time, the stereo company Fisher, they gave my father free equipment, he just had to have all the decals on his car. So he had Fisher decals, and I think A-1 Audio was the name of the shop back in the day. My father was known for this sound system. When he was an army recruiter in the Bronx in ‘70s and the ‘80s, he’d drive up to the park - this is when cats were still roller skating and stuff - and he’d just park, open his doors, with his music blasting disco or whatever. People would skate around his car and stuff - and that was his way of getting people to enlist in the army. So that’s how my fascination with cars started - with my father’s Ford Grand Torino. At an early age, sound and motion were always a thing for me. When I write music, when I create music, I always imagine listening to it in a car or driving in the car. It’s just natural.

What kind of cars are you working on right now?

I have a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am and I have a 1977 Chevy C10 Pickup Truck. I’ve never owned a car newer than 1988. [laughs]

Is that a principle you like to stick by?

Yeah, I love simple mechanics. You turn the key, it turns on, and you just drive. Those are the two cars I have. Those are my passions besides the obvious - music.

Just those two, or do you have more passion projects?

I believe in trying to stay healthy, and I’m into running. I’m also into fashion and retro pop culture, but mainly cars and music. That’s my driving force.

Pun intended, I’m sure.

[laughs] Indeed.

So those are the cars you have and are working on right now. What about music you’re working on? Are you working on anything new at the moment?

Yes, I’m working on my debut solo album. I’ve been working on it for quite some time now, and I’m hoping to be finished by early summer. Over the years, I’ve worked with Q-Tip and I’ve been part of his production team. I’m one of his principle keyboard players. I’ve been working with him for some time now. Over the past 12 years we’ve worked with everybody from Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Anderson .Paak, Nas, Common, Arcade Fire, Beyonce... a lot of stuff. I’ve been getting my resume up these last 10 years.

What kind of music are you working on in your new project? If you’re at liberty to describe it.

It’s Hybrid Electro Modern, so it has overtones of the classic sounds we grew up listening to and loving. Stuff from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. I’m very interested in the mix between disco, R&B, and soft rock - what people call yacht rock now. I’m intrigued by that mix. Practically the entire album is influenced by that. It’s classic songwriting, and it’s very personal. It’s probably the most honest piece of art I’ve ever made in my life.

That’s beautiful.

I’m really excited but scared at the same time.

It’s probably pretty vulnerable.

Extremely vulnerable.

How long have you been working on this project?

I’ve been working on my album... [laughs] THIS particular album? I have other albums that I’ve just never released. This album, about 3 to 4 years. Some of the material is much older. There are songs on the album that I wrote 10, 12 years ago, and there are songs that I wrote half a year ago, but it’s all consistent.

Now I’m curious about the albums you’ve been hiding from us!

At some point I’ll release that. It takes a lot of courage to put out art for me. You have to have a lot of courage, and sometimes I lack the courage. One of the reasons it’s so personal is because it’s about my own personal growth as a man, and it’s not really common for a man nowadays to really be completely open and honest with his feelings. And also to be open and honest about his shortcomings, things that he’s not good at. For me that’s been a lesson, and this album reflects a lot of that. It’s really personal.

Do you have anyone else working with you that you would go to for advice about it, or who helps keep it real with you about the way it’s sounding?

Yeah, my songwriting partner Nicole Guiland. She’s also the lead singer of a group we have called Heavy. She did some of the co-writing with me on this album for the lyrics. She’s been a really great asset because of our friendship. We went to highschool together. She knows me.

That’s important. It’s sometimes hard to create something with people that you still have to get to know.

If I’m trying to evoke or explain a certain feeling in a song that I’m working on, it takes her all of [laughs] one second to get it! That type of person is an invaluable person to have by your side. The other person is Q-Tip. I ask him for advice. Not a lot of people know but Q-Tip is an amazing DJ, and his broad knowledge of music - I’m not just talking about how much music he knows - but, how it was recorded. Why it was recorded. Why it was recorded that way. I mean he’s special. He’s nerd. He’s a music nerd. I bounce a lot of ideas off him as well. He’s like my older brother. Also Blair Wells who’s an amazing engineer, and Keith Lewis, a phenomenal producer and engineer. Keith has been a great asset to me. I have a pretty solid team.

Earlier, you mentioned popular culture and fashion - what are some pop icons or pop culture references or fashion icons of yours?

Morris Day. The Time. Rocky Balboa - the character and the stuff he wore in those movies. I think that look is probably pretty close to my style. I believe in classic, clean stuff, with a little bit of flair. I believe that fashion is only partly the actual clothing. Mostly it’s the swag behind it. You can see someone dressed head to toe in Versace or Pierre Cardin, in high fashion, and you go [sighs] “I don’t believe it.” Then you can see someone wearing a white T-Shirt, and a pair of jeans, and some Chuck Taylors, and be like “Damn. They are wearing the hell out of that,” because it’s the person that’s behind the clothing. Always been a fan of classic stuff.

I wanted to ask you about how you stay healthy, mentally, physically, spiritually, while you travel, especially because you travel for such long periods of time on tour.

I like to run in every city that I go to, and get a feel for the city. Getting sleep - which is hard to do when you’re on the road - but if you can get sleep you get it. It ties everything together. But most of staying healthy is mental. And having fun is important. On the road, it’s not always fun. Try to make lemonade out of lemons: crappy flights, sh*tty accommodations, or, the sound at the show is terrible, or somebody in the band is getting on your nerves. You always have to remind yourself that, hey, I could be doing something totally different, something that isn’t as fun as traveling the world.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/inspired-by-mom2017-05-04T15:25:00-05:002017-05-05T10:08:30-05:00Inspired by MomPatti Dunn
Here at Tchoup Industries we are all about celebrating positive female role models! We asked our team to tell us how their mothers inspired them to lead adventurous lives. This is what we heard back…

Ursa

When I was young my mother took me backpacking across Alaska. We hitchhiked and slept in tents and buses. I remember endless stars, boat rides and killer whales. I remember my mother’s fearlessness as we faced the unknown landscape together. I try to approach my life with that same fearlessness now.

+Aziz

My mom is an endurance machine with a big heart. Growing up, she would take my older sister and me to numerous European cities and taught us valuable lessons on the importance of being prepared when setting out to explore the unknown.

Nisey

My mama inspires me to love intensely and without judgment. She taught me to accept people exactly as they are- cherishing the good and the bad equally for the value they provide your life. She also gave me her record collection.

Olivia

My mom has inspired me to be adventurous by example- like when she decided to extend her work trip to Vietnam so she could travel by herself in a foreign country for the first time. Her curiosity and appreciation for the world around her and fearlessness toward the unknown is endlessly inspiring!❤

Abby

My mom and I are both 5'1'' but that didn't stop us from moving a 75lbs, 6 x 4 feet piece of glass out of my grandmother's house on the hottest day of August. We moved it completely by ourselves, downstairs, into the car, down an alleyway with a sharp turn. Moving this heavy, large, delicate glass is one of the many examples of how my mom has taught me to be confident, intelligent and independent. This fuels me to take risks and adventures, from moving apartments to traveling the world.

Ella

My mother has always supported my decisions to travel with my music. In college, I traveled to Havana, and when she picked me up after the trip, we drove straight from the Detroit Airport to Chicago together. She also helped me move down here to New Orleans, where I began working on the road with a nationally and internationally touring jazz ensemble.

Patti

From when I was very little it was important to both my parents to plan family outdoor adventures. More specifically, I’ve been inspired by my Mom’s bravery in all aspects of life. She’s a woman of action especially in the face of danger or urgency and I always strive to be more like her in those situations.

Happy Mother's Day from Tchoup Industries!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/two-become-one2017-04-21T16:24:00-05:002017-04-21T16:35:25-05:00Two Become OnePatti Dunn
Two of our most popular items have now been merged into one convertible design! Traditionally we have made our Mini Flap Pack has been made as either a crossbody or a backpack. Both designs were highly coveted by customers but what if they could be worn both ways?!

Our sewers explored several different options for converting the straps until we came across this winning design... A simple construction using 1 really long strap and two added rings. Now the bag can be converted from backpack to crossbody with the flick of a wrist!

This new mini is quickly becoming the must-have festival and travel accessory.

Start by gathering your materials and making your patterns. We started our petal pattern by drawing a triangle and then drawing a line from each corner to the center. Around those lines we sketched a very rough petal shape - we wanted each petal to be slightly different so it looks more organic.

Cut all of your pieces: we cut 3 layers of the petal from up-cycled rice bags, 1 small circle - any fabric will do for this piece but we chose the green to match the leaves, 2-3 leaves, and 1 strip of white cloth that measures approximately 8" x 1.25".

Next we added a drop of hot glue to the base of each petal and very slightly pinched it to give the flower some dimension. A little pinch will go a long way for this!

Start layering your petals to the small circle. We used the end of a marker to press down on the center of each layer to make sure they nestle inside each other and leave a little crater in the center for the next layer to be added.

Next we made the stamen for the center of our magnolia. We took the 8" x 1.25" strip of up-cycled sailcloth and fringed it. Then we rolled the strip using hot glue along the way to make sure it stays intact. We slowly rotated the stamen and using our scissors cut at an angle until we achieved a cone shape. At this point you could add some color and apply a thin layer of pale yellow. Glue this piece to the center of your flower - it should fit nicely inside the crater created by all the petals.

Lastly, add a few leaves to the base of your flower and voila!

Stop by our shop to see the magnolias on display nestled in our recycled canvas spanish moss!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/tchoup-travels-antarctica2017-03-17T11:00:33-05:002017-03-17T11:00:33-05:00Tchoup Travels: A Continent Grand Slam in AntarcticaPatti DunnWe interviewed Mark Stevens about his recent trip to Antarctica where he used his Tchoup Industries Fanny Pack every day!

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We interviewed Mark Stevens about his recent trip to Antarctica where he used his Tchoup Industries Fanny Pack every day! Marks says his fanny pack "had permanent residency on my hip for every zodiac cruise and water landing." Keep scrolling to see his photos, read more about his adventure and get inspired by his upcoming plans.

(Patti): What inspired you to go to Antarctica?

(Mark): Last year as I was backpacking Patagonia, I had a friend/colleague who was on an expedition from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula. The majesty of the photos planted the seed of visiting Antarctica in my mind. It's so exotic and foreign, like an alien planet. My New Year's resolution was the vine that grew from that seed: to touch foot on all seven continents in the 2017 calendar year - I'm calling it the Continent Grand Slam. I wanted to attack the most difficult destination first to set the tone for the entire slam. As I researched companies and expedition trip, the excitement grew. Finally, some time off work opened up and I took it for the plunge.

(Patti): Did you see any wildlife?

(Mark): The wildlife in Antarctica is breathtaking. Our specific expedition stopped in South Georgia Island as well. A British Territory just Northwest of the Sandwich Islands (still in the Antarctic water flow). South Georgia is home to hundreds of thousands of King Penguins. St. Andrews Bay, a King Penguin colony we visited, is home to 150,000 breeding pairs plus chicks. That's over 300,000 penguins. For scope, think of the images of the crowd at a Beatles concert or a full stadium at the World Cup final, that was the density of these sea birds.

Joining them are curious Fur Seals, fat and sleepy Elephant Seals, Skuas & Albatross. Other sites we visited were Gentoo Penguin Colonies, Macaroni Penguins, an isolated Albatross nesting island and abandoned former whaling stations. When we arrived at the continent, we were welcomed by Humpback, Fin and Minke Whales; Leopard, Crabeater and Weddell Seals, Dolphins (both bottle-nose and hourglass) and were escorted home for an hour by a squad of Orcas.

The wildlife has been preserved despite massive over-whaling in the region in the beginning of the 20th century. It was only because of fortune and a major push for conservation that we were able to glimpse a Blue Whale as well. All in all, we saw five penguin species, five whale species, and five seal varieties!

(Patti): How did your Tchoup Fanny Pack specifically come in handy?

(Mark): My Tchoup Fanny Pack had permanent residency on my hip for every zodiac cruise and water landing. The ease of access it provided was instrumental in foraging for gear while bundled up head-to-toe to protect against the cold.

My parka housed most of my bigger camera gear (ie lenses), so it was helpful to have an easily removable access pouch to hold hand-warmers, batteries, ziplock bags, GoPro so I wouldn't have to waste precious continent time digging around big pockets for the little things. Also, the little front slip pocket has a remarkable ability to not allow my iPhone to fall out (which was kept there for the rushed, impromptu penguin-baby video).

(Patti): As a Louisianian familiar with heat & humidity, can you tell us what it was like to be in such cold temperatures?

(Mark): I would love to: I grew up in Maine. Nonetheless, I've been in New Orleans for ten years (in the South almost twenty) and my blood has definitely thinned out. As it's summer in the South Hemisphere, the temperatures were not unbearable. I'd compare it with winter in any Northern US State's winter, which I admit is probably unreasonable to certain New Orleanians. Generally we were dealing with an air temperature of between 20-30˚ Fahrenheit. However, as a veteran of both extreme heat and cold, I can declare humidity as the antagonist in our story.

A New Orleans 45˚ feels like an Antarctic 35˚. The folk secret to cold weather living is layering, trapping pockets of air in between clothing layers. Body heat warms that air to regulate the temprature and it can circulate so one doesn't also sweat, an enemy in cold weather. In New Orleans that cold, saturated air gets into your bones and there's not much a merino wool base layer can do about it. That's just one man's opinion, though. (Note: I did jump into the water to do the 'Polar Plunge', which was 29˚F. I cant explain that).

Mark Stevens is a DGA Assistant Director whose credits include Dallas Buyers Club, Birth of a Nation and Beasts of Nation. In between films, he travels and writes. You can follow him on Instagram at @marcointheworld and his travel writing on Medium.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/giving-green-this-march2017-03-01T15:43:00-06:002017-03-01T15:43:34-06:00Giving Green this MarchPatti Dunn
There are always difficult decisions to make in Louisiana when big oil money and jobs directly conflict with our local efforts to slow down land loss and preserve natural habitats. Most of us would love to have our cake and eat it too, which would be a lot easier if oil companies tapping into our gulf could commit to holding up their end of the bargain.

"No where on Earth is there such a living landscape, where 100 acres of new land emerges from the sea. It's this dynamism that makes the River Delta so fertile, and the Gulf so biodiverse. But we have lost so much because companies refuse to clean up their mess, and our government refuses to uphold the law." - Scott Eustis, coastal wetland specialist at Gulf Restoration Network

As we eagerly await decisions on the 162-mile Bayou Bridge Pipeline projected to cut through 600 acres of wetlands and 700 bodies of water, we reflect on the importance of protecting our unique natural landscape. Tchoup Industries is dedicated to supporting the health of our Southern Louisiana environment by consistently tapping into plentiful local resources and avoiding oil-based synthetic components. This month we're doing more by donating 10% of all March profits to the Gulf Restoration Network.

You can speak directly to employees of Gulf Restoration Network and sign up for membership at our shop on Saturday March-18th. You can also learn more about their ongoing projects to maintain and improve the health of our gulf, marsh, wetlands and waterways on their website. The images used in this post are from a recent flight they took to check existing oil sheens off the coast of Louisiana. You can read more about this monitoring on their blog.

Shop our collection anytime this month to take part in the donation to Gulf Restoration Network.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/the-making-of-beads-brass2017-01-19T19:28:00-06:002017-01-19T19:30:49-06:00The Making of Beads & BrassPatti Dunn
Tchoup Industries founder Patti Dunn teamed up with local textile designer Abby Wetsman to create the 2017 limited edition Mardi Gras collection Beads & Brass, and we documented every step of the way. Here's a behind the scenes look of the work that went into the bright canvas panels painted by thrown Mardi Gras Beads.

Step 1 - Dyeing the Fabric

Abby used scrap canvas leftover from an unrelated tablecloth project. The bright white didn't give us the look we wanted, so after exploring multiple options, we decided to use a natural dye called tannin.

Abby dipped old Mardi Gras beads into paint before throwing them down onto the dyed fabric. Painted shapes left behind have the movement of airborne throws and bright colors hint at the costumes of our beloved Mardi Gras day.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/baby-its-time-for-king-cake2017-01-18T16:51:00-06:002017-01-18T17:12:58-06:00Baby, Its Time For King CakePatti Dunn
Resolutions of giving up refined sugar for the new year all goes out the window on January 6th, the Twelfth Night after Christmas. That's the day our Carnival season officially begins, which means King Cake will now be plentiful and available through Mardi Gras Day.

Once you come to love this special seasonal treat, it's hard to think there's only 54 days of year you can enjoy it! With such a limited window of time, how can we try them all? Everyone in our Tchoup shop voted on their favorites to help whittle down the list - see results below. If you live elsewhere in the country, keep in mind that some of the best New Orleans bakeries are willing to deliver!

Tastee McKenzie's

The beloved McKenzie’s bakery closed long ago, and many New Orleanians swear by it’s original king cake recipes as the taste of Carnival. Now this classic king cake can be found at area Tastee Donuts where chef John Folse keeps the tradition alive.

Shake Sugary

Much newer to the New Orleans' Carnival scene, the Bywater bakery Shake Sugary provides alternative vegan and gluten free options and a handful of very unique flavor and filling options. Our favorites are the Chocolate Chip Pecan and Banana Nutella.

Laurel Street Bakery

Laurel Street Bakery makes a braided and unfilled cinnamon style king cake topped with a drizzle of white icing and dusted with sugar. Baker Hillary Guttman makes everything from scratch, even coloring her own granulated sugar. It's easy for us to get behind sweet treats made from scratch by fellow talented women!

Dong Phuong

Many New Orleanians make the 20 mile pilgrimage to this Vietnamese bakery Dong Phuong in New Orleans East for their horse shoe shaped king cake. This one is a light cake with crispy edges and a tender inside. It comes in a variety of flavors, is there time to try them all??

Rocket Girl Treats

Just this morning we gathered around our shop table and enjoyed Rocket Girl Treats' vegan gluten free King Cake Donuts from our corner coffee shop Hi Volt. Although we only enjoyed the donut form, you can also order full king cakes directly from Rocket Girl Treats' Facebook page. I also really appreciate their golden baby option.

Rouse's Market

Our local grocery chain bakes king cakes at several locations around town making this one of the most convenient bakery options. Even though other options seem much more glamorous, I probably see the Rouse's version at Mardi Gras parties more than any others. Their website touts that they will be making and decorating nearly 400,000 king cakes this Carnival season - making them the most eaten along the Gulf Coast!

Which king cakes are on your list this Carnival Season??

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/2016-sustainability-report2017-01-04T22:21:00-06:002017-01-04T22:21:02-06:002016 Sustainability ReportPatti Dunn
At Tchoup Industries we strive to make a positive impact on our community and the environment. Here's a recap of how we supported this mission during the 2016 calendar year (our 4th year in business!).

Items that never made it to the landfill due to our repurposing efforts:

And when it comes to the costs of doing business, we did our best to spend our money wisely:

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/tchoup-press-mens-journal-gift-guide2016-12-16T13:56:00-06:002016-12-16T13:58:42-06:00Tchoup Press: Men's Journal Gift GuidePatti Dunn
Yesterday Men's Journal published Local-Made Holidays: Gift Ideas From Every State to their online blog. Writer Lauren Steele researched items made locally state by state, and we are so honored to be one of two companies featured from Louisiana!

Also featured was one of our favorite New Orleans' breweries Abita Beer. Woo hoo! Go local!

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/tchoup-press-parade2016-12-04T14:33:00-06:002016-12-04T14:33:47-06:00Tchoup Press: Parade's Made in America Gift GuidePatti Dunn
Yesterday the New Orleans' Christmas parade rolled through the streets of downtown. What a nice surprise to be featured in Parade's Made in America gift guide found in today's Times Picayune and newspapers across the country!

Parade featured our leather card wallet trimmed with genuine Louisiana alligator, sourced from Mark Staton Co. in Lafayette. "From the bayou to you, this luxe-looking wallet was made by one of the company’s NOLA-based craftsmen using genuine leather with Louisiana alligator trim."

It's a great season to be shopping local! Visit Parade.com/guide for more state-inpsired gifts.

And visit our shop for more from Tchoup Industries handmade right here in New Orleans, LA, USA.

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https://tchoupindustries.com/blogs/news/forage-your-decor2016-11-27T20:18:00-06:002016-11-27T20:18:25-06:00Forage Your DecorPatti Dunn
Living in a small New Orleans shotgun home means that there's not much extra space for storage of holiday decorations. My tree stand and skirt, a jingle bell wreath, and a few strands of lights didn't make the cut in my most recent purge this past summer. So now that the holidays are upon us again I find myself looking for cheerful but temporary options - think ephemeral. Think all natural!

Here are 3 DIY ideas that can all be foraged from our neighborhoods, local parks or produce stands.

Orange & Clove Pomanders

It's citrus season! Satsumas, grapefruit and soon blood oranges are plentiful. Turn a few of these delicious beauties into aromatic holiday decor by pressing in whole cloves as shown in this guide by LiveSeasoned.com. Display them in a bowl or hang them with ribbon for instant holiday cheer and smells.

We don't have many pinecones in Southern Louisiana, but we have plenty of these sweet gum balls that fall from trees. Collect the good ones that haven't been crushed underfoot and follow Sturdy for Common Things' instructions on stringing them up into a sweet garland. Consider keeping it au naturale without the adhesive spray and glitter.

See instructions here from A Pair & A Spare for a slightly more involved project that will end up with an oh so lovely locally foraged wreath. And here's another guide from Treasures and Travels blog that skips the dried flowers. I can't wait to see what I can find in City Park to create one of these beauties.

Looking for a non-traditional spin? Check out this triangle wreath found on pinterest.